FAQ
K W Plastering Services Frequently asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q : You just rendered and plastered my room. How long should i leave it to dry before i can paint ?
plasterer Cardiff
A : You will see when it is dry when it turns from dark to light pink in colour. Ceilings are usually the quickest to dry, usually 3 days. Walls, especially when rendered first, depending on how thick the render is and what the backround it was layed on, could take up to 7 days before decoration should take place. Again, common sense is necessary, if it is still damp/ dark pink in patches wait until completely dry. ( eg. on a backround of stone there will be less suction than say a porous blockwork so will dry quicker on blockwork. ) Look at photo to right. You can distinguish where the dry and damp patches are.
Q : When i paint fresh plastered walls, should i treat the walls with anything before i apply the paint ?
cardiff plasterers
A : Yes ! The reason being is that fresh plaster is porous and will suck all the moisture out of neat paint resulting in the paint cracking, flaking and ultimately a poor finish. You must seal the plaster with either PVA ( Unibond ) at a ratio of 1 part PVA to 3 parts water, or alternatively use a mist coat of paint, this consists of 25 -30% of water to 100% of paint
Q : I have a damp patch on my ceiling where a pipe burst and now sags and is stained. Do you need to replaster the whole ceiling or can it be patched ?
plasteringservices cardiff
A : What we do for this is cut out the damaged plasterboard to the nearest ceiling joists and re-plasterboard. Yes we can patch up to the existing plastered ceiling, but you always get a better finish when the whole ceiling is plastered and in my experience if the ceiling is not too big it does not take that much longer to skim the whole ceiling, the reason for this is plaster has its own setting time so areas large or small you still have to wait the same amount of time, so its worth thinking about.
Q : If i get mould frequently appearing on my old plaster, does my wall need re-skimming ?
plastering services Cardiff
A : Not necessarily, unless the plaster has "blown". It is more likely you have a damp or condensation problem. This is most common in bathrooms and kitchens where moisture is regularly present and you do not have adequate ventilatiion. It might be beneficial to fit a wall vent or an extraction fan to expel moisture.
Q : How can i recognise blown plaster ?
cardiffplasterers
A : When you tap it gently with your finger you get a small echoing or a loose clicking sound rather than a sharp solid sound that should be, it may also bulge slightly and move inwards when pressed gently with finger.
Q : What should i do in preparation for your trademen`s visit ?
plasterer-cardiff
A : A nice clear room is always best, this way we can get the best possible start and we can work more efficiently. We always cover carpets and various flooring surfaces with plastic coated dust sheets, but it is always best if the room is as clear as possible of any furnishings.